The introduction of problem-based learning (PBL) in undergraduate medical courses necessitates the special training of teachers and monitoring of their performance.1 In traditional courses the emphasis is on transmission of factual knowledge; teachers are the main source of information and students are offered few opportunities to identify their own learning needs or reflect collectively on their learning experience.2 Then, if the outcomes are unfavourable, the blame lies with the student, for lack of skills or motivation. By contrast, in PBL courses the responsibilities of teachers include: encouraging critical thinking; fostering self-directed learning and curiosity; monitoring group progress; and creating a learning environment that stimulates all members in the group, generates deep understanding, and promotes teamwork.1,3
These activities demand special attributes. Over the past five years I have run over forty workshops for would-be PBL tutors as well as refresher workshops for existing tutors who wish to enhance their skills as PBL facilitators. These workshops usually begin with a session titled What makes good teachers? and I ask participants to write down the name of the best teacher they have ever had and list his or her good qualities: ‘In what way did your best teacher help you to grow?’ Certain qualities are common to many of these teachers—for example, ‘He treated me with respect and was interested in helping and supporting me’; ‘She motivated me to love the subject she was teaching’; ‘She created a positive impact on my life that reshaped my vision and purpose’; ‘He was able to keep us engaged in his lessons, think, and ask good questions’; ‘I realized that learning can be fun and a life-long experience’. These responses stimulated me to examine the qualities of a good teacher in a more systematic way.